The 5th Wave

Soon to come: a post about The 5th Wave, Sci-fi dystopia similar to Hunger Games...

Non-Fiction at its Best: Mountaineering, Pandemics, and Dogs

A friend of mine asked me the other day for a recommendation for a good non-fiction book. She hadn't had much luck in finding one she could stick with. A few popped into my head : Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, Merle’s Door by Ted Kerasote, and The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. All three were very readable with compelling stories to tell.  Outside Magazine editor, Krakauer, wrote of his chilling experience of an expedition to Mt. Everest gone wrong.  Detailed and engaging, Into Thin Air will appeal to both adventurers and vicarious adventurers alike. 

Merle’s Door told the story of outdoorsman Ted’s journey with his freethinking “wild” dog, Merle.  Kerasote did a good job using scientific research to make the case that dogs benefit from both independence and a partnership with humans. But this author’s real strength showed when he wrote about the love he had for his unique dog, Merle, and vice versa. Dog lovers will not put this down without shedding a tear or two.

Although published in 1999, Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone, still resonates today particularly in light of recent global epidemics.  Preston hooks the reader with his detailed descriptions of the excruciating effects of the Ebola Virus as well as the public health response to potential pandemics.  Despite its scientific approach, The Hot Zone is extremely readable with multi-points of view.

Many people think non-fiction is dry and hard to read so I hope to prove them wrong with recommending more page-turning books like the above.  All are suitable for teens and adults.

Crossover Selections for Adults and Teens

     I recently finished Karen Thompson Walker's debut adult novel, Age of Miracles, that was written from the point of view of  Julia, an 11 year old narrator. Age of Miracles explored what would happen to an ordinary American family in the midst of the slowing of the earth's rotation, a potential and terrifying  global disaster.  Immediately I thought that this book would appeal to teens. Walker captured the mindset and emotional makeup of a young adult yet at the same made it relatable to adults. Age of Miracles combined a coming of age story into an end of the world plot, very Hunger Gamesesque, with a compelling character and storyline. Teens and adults alike will find a solid connection to this novel.  A film is in the works as well.

For readalikes, I recommend Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer  and How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. These are YA books that have crossover appeal to adults.

Book to Film: Divergent

Divergent Film to be released in early 2014.  Divergent is the movie based on the novel of the same name, a dystopia in the vein of Hunger Games.  The second book in the series is called Insurgent and the third, Allegiant, will be released this October. I'm excited to see Shailene Woodley playing Tris.  She was excellent in The Descendants.

Which series do you like better, Divergent or Hunger Games?  I liked both, but Hunger Games captured more of the emotional aspects and the characters were better drawn than in Divergent.  Divergent was action-packed and a little easier to read than HG.

Out of the Easy, not your typical historical teen read

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys.  I picked this up recently as I had really enjoyed Sepetys' debut Between Shades of Grey (not to be confused with 50 Shades).  Between Shades of Gray was a well-written and poignant novel about the often unknown plight of Lithuanians during World War II.  Gray was emotional and hard to read at times due to the horrific treatment the family faced in Siberian work camps, yet is not to be missed.

I was not disappointed in Out of the Easy, although a different time period was explored, it proved to have strong characters and  emotional content as Gray did.  Easy explored class, and race through the lens of a teenage daughter of a New Orleans' prostitute set in the 1950s.  The main character, Josie, is a smart and sensitive girl who is determined to rise above her beginnings and go to college.  Her mother's volatile choice in men as well as a lack of maternal feeling snares Josie time and time again.  Readers will devour this page-turner that is part mystery, history, and noir romance.  Ages 14 and up.

Gil in the Arena Redux

Girl In the Arena by Lise Haines.  If you liked the Hunger Games, you would undoubtedly like this book.  Lyn is  a strong female protagonist who rejects her role as a traditional Gladiator's wife.  Her world portrays a reality show gone wrong in the vein of Hunger Games where contestants fight to  the death.  Lyn is to expected to give up her dreams and her beliefs of non-violence and follow her mother's path and marry a Gladiator.  Haines is able to capture a world where celebrity, violence, and profit reign over compassion and fairness- a world that the reader can imagine that is not too far from our own.  Although Hunger Games edges out Girl in Arena in its better character and emotional development, Girl is different and exciting enough to be worth the read.

Like The Hunger Games series? Try Girl in the Arena

I enjoyed the Hunger Games series including the movie and found myself surprised to be watching the movie for a second time when I noticed it on Netflix.  I don't usually like to see movies again but it was definitely worth it. I thought the movie did an excellent job of recreating the somber mood of the series as well as capturing the essence of Katniss and her experiences.  Catching Fire comes out all the way into next November which is why I was looking for something to tie me over.  Although I just started it, Lise Haines' Girl in the Arena appears to be a book in the vein of the Hunger Games.  Come back and look for my update and review once I'm through with it.  And don't forget to look through some of my old postings and reviews...there are some good books in there!

Suggestions?

Hi! It's been a while since I've posted and I definitely would like to get back into posting regularly.  I just finished my stint at the Beaverton Library where I was the YA intern.  Learned alot and worked with some great people.  Now perhaps a job will materialize? :).  I'm reading a non-YA book right now (Ken Follet's Fall of Giants) which has a definte Downton Abbey feel to it-enjoying it) and looking for the next great YA book.  Any suggestions? Let me know and after I read it, I'll post a review!

And just for fun, I've posted a pic of our new kitten, Skippy, who we adopted from the Oregon Humane Society (named after Skippyjon Jones, a favorite book series of my daughter's-check it out!)

YA GBTLQ suggestions from School Library Journal

photo courtesy of desininspiration.com

I've been working on a Young Adult booklist for GBTLQ (Gay, bi, trans, lesbian, and questioning) and came across this article from the SLJ:

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/printissue/currentissue/894412-427/lgbtq_lit_speaking_out.html.csp

It has some good suggestions and remember you don't have to be GBTLQ to appreciate these books.

Great websites for kids!

http://www.ala.org/alsc/greatwebsites/greatwebsitesforkids/greatwebsites